# Enhanced Clinical Decisions for Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Using Patient-Reported Outcomes

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $669,698

## Abstract

Project Summary
The American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-SI) has been the primary patient-reported outcome
(PRO) used in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for decades; however, it is not a comprehensive
assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms that may present with BPH because it lacks items on urinary
incontinence and bladder pain. The Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN)
developed general-use multidimensional symptom questionnaires in order to address the complex needs of the
urology clinic, but these tools have yet to be validated in specific clinical populations. The overarching goal of
this project is to use these questionnaires and other PROs to enhance clinical decision-making in men with BPH.
This will be achieved by (1) integration of PRO assessments into the evaluation and management of patients
with BPH; (2) determination of clinically meaningful differences in LURN Symptom Indices in men with BPH
receiving known effective treatment; and (3) creation of care-coordination recommendations to facilitate using
PROs in order to match evidence-based treatments to patients with persistent symptoms. PROs are a cost-
effective strategy that, combined with advances in electronic medical health record technology, can improve
patient care by allowing for more real-time surveillance and intervention, including the monitoring of both the
core urologic symptoms of BPH and common comorbid symptoms such as sleep disturbance and depression. In
order to effectively determine meaningful symptom changes in response to treatment, minimally important
differences specific to men with BPH must be established. Moreover, previously demonstrated convergent
validity of the questionnaires must be confirmed in this population. In addition to using PROs to assess
treatment response, they can also be used to monitor short-term side effects and comorbid conditions over the
course of treatment, a practice that can facilitate care coordination that will increase quality of care and quality
of life for men with BPH. In Aim 1, we will use statistical methods to predict changes in urologic symptoms and
assess associations between lower urinary tract symptoms and measures of sleep disturbance, depression, and
pain, among others. In Aim 2, we will assess test-retest reliability and other psychometric properties of the LURN
Symptom Indices, using a triangulation of methods to determine minimally important differences. In Aim 3, we
will engage stakeholders, including patients and clinicians, and use qualitative methods to create care
coordination checklists intended for physician extenders to follow up with patients undergoing treatment,
including via telehealth. Aim 3 will also enhance the recovery and routine monitoring of men with BPH after
surgery, who can experience distressing side effects and complications such as urinary leakage and pain. The
ultimate result of this work will be better understanding of the associa...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10698073
- **Project number:** 5R01DK130963-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexander Paul Glaser
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $669,698
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10698073

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10698073, Enhanced Clinical Decisions for Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Using Patient-Reported Outcomes (5R01DK130963-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10698073. Licensed CC0.

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